Bevel-gear-cutting machine.



w. F. ZIMMERMANN.

BEVEL GEAR CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.24, 1915.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916-1l W. ZIMMERMANN. BEVEL GEAR CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Aus.z4.1s15.

Patented 004.. 17,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.V

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W. F. ZIMMERIVIANN.

BEVEL GEAR CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.24. 1915.

1,201,417. l Patented Oct. 17,` 1916.

l 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3| y INI/ENTE F? WILLIAM F. ZVIMMRVIANN, OF lNEWARK,hl'li' JERSEY, ASSIGNOIR, TO GOULD & 'l

EBERHARIDT, OE NEVARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

/ BEv'EnGEAn-CUTTING MAGHINE.

Patented Oct. 12', 1916.

iiplication filed August 24, 1915. Serial N o. 47,131.

' To all 'whom ,it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. ZIMMER- MANN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of-New Jersey, have inventedcertainnew and useful Improvements in Bevel-Gear-Cutting Machines, and do hereby declare the Vfollowingspeciication, taken in Yconnection with the. y drawings forming part of same, to be a full, clear,l concise, and exact description of the inven tion, and the best mode contemplated to apply the principle thereof, so as to distinf guish it from other inventions and to enable lany person skilled in the art to which it appertains or with which it is most nearly connected to make, construct, and use the same.

This invention relates primarily to a ma chine for cutting the teeth of bevel gear wheels and more particularly to a machine for roughing out the teeth preparatory to finishing` them upon a planing machine.

The prir'nary .object of this invention is to provide an organization which is adapted to operate continuously upon the gear blanks to be cut and wherein it is merely necessary to removethe finished gear and replace same with the uncut blank without stopping the machine. t'

lThis invention comprises a rotary turret or polyhedron upon which the gear blanks to be cut are mounted, with means to slowly move said polyhedron past the. cutters for cutting the metal and then automatically increasing the speed between the cuts and means whereby once during each revolution of said rotary drum or turret all the' gear blanks are indexed one tooth.

Other objects will be apparent from, and are incorporated in the annexed drawings, and in the following description which sets forth in detail, certain contrivances embodying means constituting' however, but one of the. various mechanical forms in whichthe principle ofthe invention may be used. The novelty .of the invention will be readily understood from the drawings, which show a construction for practising the invention in its preferred form, and from the following description thereof,4 and is more-specifically pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claimsannexed to said devscription.

, In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front ele- .anism i work and cutter spindles.'-

' vation of the invention partly in' section to` clearly illustrate the interior mechanism. v

Fig. 2 is a side elevation also having certain The main f 'ame l has a stanchion 2 at one end thereof, preferably integral therewith.

The cutter spindle 3 is rotatablyfmounted in said Stanchion 2 and is connected to' the spindle gear 4 bymeans of the clutch shaft 5, whichis slidably keyed to said spindle gear to rotate therewith. Three' cutters 6 are keyed to the cutter spindle 3 and Separated from each' other by the cap bearings.

7. Separating bushes S which are also keyed to the cutter spindle are introduced between each pair of'said cutters so that by tightening the nut 9 all the cutters are clamped securely. The Aupper part of the cutter spindle 3 is provided with a flange' 10 to form an abutment for said cutters.

The cutter spindle 3 is readily removable from its bearings by first removing the cap boxes 7 then raising the shaft 5 by means ofthe lever 11 which is pivoted at l2 and cooperates with the annular groove v13. The raising of `said shaft 5 disconnects same frein the. clutch face 1l provided on the cutter spindle 3. The purpose of this ar rangement is to readily replace another spindle together with the cutters thereon when the cutters in the machine have become dull and need resharpening. The cap boxes 7 are so constructml that together with the cavities v15 formed within the stanchion 2 they provide a chamber into which Athe cool-v ing lubr'fant may be introduced for the cutters.

The spindle gear l is rotatably mounted in the overhanging support 1G which iS 4secured to the upper part of the stanchion 2 b v means of suitable bolts 17. The pinion 1S meshes with and rotates said spindle gear t and is secured to the vertical driving shaft 19 which is rotatably mounted in the stanchion. vTo the lower end of said driving rihese 'plates rif..

shaft i9 is ek bevel gear 2G, .vhich meshes with. the bevel gear 2l keyed to the horizon tel driving-g' shaft 22. The change gears 23 connect seid horizontel driving` shaft .92 5, Wit-li the pulley or main shaft 24C. The phil ley 25 is suitably connected to seid pulley shaft end its motion from any' snit able source. lhe geared connections just described iorin the rotating means for the cutters.

To the pulley or mein shaft 2e is lreyed a Worm 26 which. meshes with the slov.T feed Worin Wheel'?. Gears connect seid pulley shaft with e feed shaft 29. A Worm'O is keyed to seid feed shaft 29 end meshes with the fest feed 'Worin Wheel 3l.

ed in the main fra-me to rotate in the same direction, the letter rotating however, at a rate of speed about T to 8 times that o the worm Wheel 27. rihe opposing faces of the Worm Wheels 27 and 3l are provided with clutch teeth 32 and 33 respectively and are alternately engaged hy the sliding clutch which is slida'bly keyed to the turret driving shaft 35. The operation oi the clutch controlling,r mechanism will be hereinafter more fully described. The feed change gears 3G connect said turret driving shaft with the wormy or driven shaft 37 which extends along the side of the machine. rlhe Woriny is slidably keyed to said driven shaft 37 and is held from movement endwise by the locurings 39 on a Work slide 4f() which is slidehly mounted-upon guideways 41 formed on the horizontal' portion ot the main traine. Suitable straps 42 are provided to clamp said slide 4:0 to the iframe. The vvorlr table e'il is rotatably mounted in said Work cerriage e and has integral therewith, the worm Wheel dei which meshes ivith and is rotated hy seid worm'BS. The Octagon. turret or :polyhedron 45 is secured to the work table 4l?) by means .of suitable bolts and is rotatably supported at its upper end ine block i? which is arranged between the guides 4S ot the suppoorting member 16 end which can he securedto said 'supporting member by the bolts 49. A series of twenty-tour work-spindies 50 are rotatably mounted in said turret;

three to each fece of the octeg'on. ifllampinf pistes 5l are secured to seid turret e5 by suitable bolts to retain said spind 5G.

QS Fl are arranged so that they butt against each other to resistenti absorb the circumferential strains imparted thereto l hy the spindles 50. iiiach oit said spindlesis provided with e Worin wheel 52 which is partielly cut es a helical gear and is preferN ltmalol-v made integral with each spindle. The

ir/vorins which are gnz'eierahly integral with their shafts fill ere arranged to mesh with. said spindle worin. wheels The Worms 5S are so arranged 'that each Worin is in mesh "et With. twospindle Wheels to drive seid Wheels The Worin wheels Wand 3l ere vrotatably mount vsecured to the 'Work slide forms en ahnt-r on opposite sides. These Worms are connected to a suitable indexing mechanism to he hereinafter described.

Esch ,of the spindles is provided with a plate to which the gear blank 5G to be 70 out is secured. A clamping plate 57 is provided to hold the gear 56 against the plate by ineens of the studo and nut 59, the

'stud 58 being secured to seid plete 55. i.

Eight 'inde-Xing Worm shafts 54 are 9rd Zo l v.turret @i5 and mesh. With the index gear 6l.

The purpose of providing these intermediate or idler gears 63 is to ,O 'ive the proper direc-` tion of rotation to each of the Worm shafts. The indexingv gear 6l is rotatably mounted Within the Work table 43 und hes keyed to its other end, e notched or indexing plete 64, 9o which is periodically engaged by the indexing bolt G5. .er cam 66 is secured to and retstes with the ivork table l-3 and is'provided with e depression 67 which is arranged to engagejvith the indexing bolt G5, the letter il being .mounted in the IWork slide' 40.. A spring; 68 is provided to keep' seid indexing. bolt in contant With ther com 66 so that` when the turret is rotated to e position where the com depression G7 permits thev indexing; bolt 65 to move 'into' engagement vwith the indexing plete 64, the lettervv'ill he held stetionary While the Work table con-. tinues to rotate. This connection will cause the work spindles 50 to rotate a predeter- 'MI5 mined amount dependent upon the number of notches in the 'indexing plate 64 and the ratio of the gearing 6l', 60 and 62 and the ratio of thevvorms and Wheels. The index-` ing occurs once :for each rotation 'of the tui, llo ret and takes place when the critter is not in contact with the fear lolsnks,'vvhich position is more clearly' shown in Fig. 8.

Pri'lie lever 69 is pivoted to the rod 70, which is connected to the indexing plunger 65 so that lov moving; the lever 69 to the right as seen in Fig. 2, theindexing plunger 65 is l Withdrawn from contact with the cam 6G and no indexing een take place. A cap 7l.

y'1,201,417 I l To the worm vor driven shaft 37 is secured a timing worm 75 meshing with the. worm wheel 76 which is rotatably mounted on the side of the stancliion 2 and is provided with two rollers 77 and 88 arranged in different planes to alternately engage with the lost motion lever 78. The lost motion lever 78 which is pivotally mounted upon the rock shaft 79, is provided with a spring plunger 80 and a cooperating inclined block 81.

The rock shaft 79 has secured thereto the lever 82 and the' clutch fork 88. Clutch pads 84 'are provided in said clutch lever 83 and engage the annular'groove 85 inthe clutch 34. The rollers 77 and 88 are so arranged that when the i'oller 88 comes in contact with the surface 86 of the lost motion lever 78, said lost motion lever will be moved to the right as viewed in Figs. 2 and 5, uiitil the` spring pressed plunger 80 and the vinclined block- 81 force the lever 82 to the right and thereby engage the clutch 34 with the worin wheel 31. This action will rotate the turret seven toeight times faster than wlien'the 'clutch 34 is in engagement with the worm wheel 27. When the roller -77 comes in contact with the surface 87 of the lost motion lever 78 the clutch 34 is then forced back into engagement with the worm wheel 27 thereby again slowing up the rof `tary movement of the'turret. .The speeding up of the turret occurs each time that the cutter passes from tooth to tooth across thev gear blank, and slows' down again just before it commences to cutthe tooth.

To force large quantities of cooling lubi"i.

cant into the cutter cavities 15, a pump 89 of the well known centrifugal type is provided and connected to the pulley shaft 24 by the bevel gears 90. Conduits in the form of iron pipe 91 connect the cutter cavities 15 with the outlet of said centrifugal pump.

The operation of the entire mechanism is as follows: The work turretor polyhedron is adjusted toward the cutters by means of the'adjusting screw 72 and then clamped in position by the straps 42. The cutters receive rotary motion through and 20 and gears 18 and 4. .The turret is rotated slowly through'the worm and worm wheel 2G and 27, change gears 3G and worm 38 and wheel 44, to feed the work past the cutters. This slow feeding motion of the turret will continue until the roller 88 contacts with the surface 86 of the lost'motion lever 78 to withdraw the clutch ,34 from engagement with the slow feeding worm wheel .27 to engagement with the yfast feeding worm'wheel 31, thereby impartingrapid motion to the turret between two opposite faces ofthe gear blank. The'fast feeding motion is continued until the roller 77 operates the lostmotion lever 78 to move the clutch34 back again into engagement with a. gear train .comprising change gears 23, bevel gears 21 the slow feeding .worm wheel. This periodic shifting from slow to fast and vice versa is continual. Once during everyA Arevolution of the work turret, all the work blanks are indexed one tooth by means of the cam 6-6. 1When the depression (37 of said cain G6 comes yopposite to the index bolt G5, the spring G8 forces the bolt into engagement with the notched or index plate 64. This will hold the index plate 64 and the index gear. 61 from rotation relative to the worin wheel 44 and causes the spindles 50 to make a partial revolution depending .upon the vnumber of turret is completed, which is then removed and another substituted. Thereafter one blank can be taken off for each rotation of the Vturret without stopping the'continuous operation of the machine.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by LetteisPat- 1. In a geailcutting machine the combinationof a cutter spindle, a polyhedron, a

series of4 work spindles rotatably mounted in said polyliedroii, and means to continu'- ously rotate said cutter spindle and polyliedron relatively to each other.

2. In a gear cutting machine the combination of. a cutter spindle, a polyliedron the axis whereof is substantiallyparallel with" the axis of said cutter spindle, a series vof workspindles rotatably mounted 1n said polyhedron, and means to rotate saidcutter spindle and polyhedron relatively to each` other. y

8. n a gear cutting machine, the combination of a cutter spindle, a. polyhedron, a.A

series of work spindles rotatably mounted in lsaid polyhedron, and means to continuously rotate said cutter spindle and polyhedron relatively to each other, and means to index said work spindles.

4. In a gear cutting machine the combi-` 'nation of a. cutter spindle, a polyhedron, a.

series of work spindles rotatably mounted in said polyhedron, means to rotate said cutter spindle, means to continuously rotate said polyhedron and means to index said work 5. 'In a gear lcutting machine the combination of a cutter spindle, a polyhedron the axis whereof' is' substantially parallel with the axis of said' spindle, a series v'of work spindles rotatably mounted in said polyliedron, means to rotate said cutter spindle,

nation of a cutter spindle, a polyhedron, a

series of Work spindles arranged to rotate transversely to the axis of said polyhedron,

' Work'spindles rotatably mounted me'ans to continuously rotate said cutter spindle and polyhedron relatively to each other and means to index said Work spindles.

8. ln a gearcutting machine the combi nation'of a cutter spindle, .a series o'ic cutters secured thereto, a polyhedron,

in each face of? said polyhedron correspondingly with said cutters, means to continuously ro tate said cutters'and polyhedron relatively to each other, and means to indes said Work spindles.`

9. ln a gear cutting machine the combination of. a cutter spindle, a polyhedron, a series of Work spindles rotatably mounted i'n said polyhedrom'means torotate said cutter spindle, means to slowly rotate said polyhedron during the cutting periods, means to increase the rate of rotationduring the noncutting periods, and means to index said workspindles- 10,'ln la gear cutting machine the combination of a lcutter spindle, a polyhedron, a series of Worlrspindles arranged to rotate transversely tothe axis oi" said polyhedron, means to rotate said cutter spindle and ypolyhedron relatively to-each other and means toindex said work spindles once tor each rota tion of said polyhedron during a non-cut ting period.

l1. In a gear cutting machine, the combination of, a cutter spindle, a series of cutters secured thereto, a ypolyhedrt'm, va series ot Work spindles rotatably mounted in each face of said polyhedron, means to continuously rotate said cutters at a constant speed, and means for imparting` a cutting and noneutting movement to said polyhedron for each tace thereof. l2. In a gear cutting machine the combi nation of a cutter spindle, a series of cutters secured thereto, a polyhedroma seriesof Work spindles mounted in each 'face of said polyhedron, means to continuously rotate said cutters, means to rotate said polyhedron, and 'mea-ns to alternately increase and decrease the rotative speed of said polyhedron, the number of which alternations of speed is dependent upon the number of itac'es com` prising said polyhedron.

aseries of.

in said polyhedron,

ln a gear cutting machine the combimeans to alternatel E,

Lacher? nation of a cutter spindle, a series of cutters secured thereto, a polyhedron, a series ot Work spindles rotatably mounted in each tace of said polyhedron, means to rotate said cutters at a. constant speed, means to slowly rotate said polyhedron during4 a. cudm'fiinj;v period and means to rapidly rotate said polyhedron 4duringw a non-cutting i perico.,

said periods recurring for each 'face ot said said shalt :for each face of said polyhedron.4

ln a gear cutting machine the combination of a cutter spindle, a polyhedron, a series ot Work spindles rotatably` mounted in said polyhedron, a main shaft, connections between said main shaft and kcutter spindle to rotate same, a shaft connected to said polyliedron to continuously rotate the latter connections between said shafts to slowly rotate said last mentioned shalt, and other connections between said shafts to rapidly rotate said last mentioned shaft.

1G. ln a gear cutting' machine the combination of a cutter spindle, a polyhedron,

' a series oi Work spindles rotatably mounted in said polyhedron, a main shaft, connec tions between said main shaft' and cutter spindle, a shaft connected to said poly hedron to continuously rotatethe latter a slow moving member connected to said main.

shalt, a 'fast moving member also connected to said main shait, means to alternately connect said slow andfast moving; members to lsaid last mentioned shaft to rotate said polyhedron.

17. ln a gear cutting machine the combination of a 'cutter `-`spindle, a polyhedron.y a series of Work spindles rotatably mounted a' main shaft, connecftions 'from said. mamy shaft. to said cutter spindle, a shaft connected to said polyhedron to continuously rotate the latter a slow moving member connected to said main a polyhedron,

shatt, a fast moving 4member connected toA said main shaft, and controlling mechanism operated by said last mentioned shaft to alternately vconnectgsaiol slow and fast met@ inp; members thereto. i

i8. ln agear cutting machine the combi nation of a. cutter spindle, a polyhedron, a series tot Work spindles rotatably mounted in said polyhedron, amain shaft, connections between said main shaft and cutter spindle, a shaft connected to said polyhedron to continuously rotate the latter ly rotate said last mentioned shaft fast and slow,

Work spindles rotatably mounted in .said

polyhedron, an indexing gear revolubly mounted in said operated by said polyhedron to actuate said indexing gear to index said spindles.

- 20. In a gear cutting machine the combination of a cutter Spindle,

liedron relatively to each other, a series of Work spindles rotatably mounted in said polyhedrom an indexing' gear revolubly mounted in and concentric with said polyliedron and connected to said spindles, an index plate ysecured to an index bolt arranged in a stationary portion of the machine to co-act with said index plate, and a cam secured to'and rotatable with said polyhedron to control said .index bolt. 4

21. In a gear cutting machine the combination of a cutterv` spindle, a polyhedron, av series of Work spindles rotatably mounted in said polyhedron, an indexing gear independently rotatable and concentric with said polyhedron and connected to said spindles and'm'eans to arrest the rotation of said indexin gear.

22. n a gear cutting machine the combination of a cutter spindle, a polyhedron,

means to rotate said polyhedron and cutter spindle relatively to each other', a series of Work spindles rotatably mounted 1n said polyhedron, an indexing gear connected to said spindles and arranged to rotate With' said polyhedron, and means to actuate said indexing gear independently of said polyhedron thereby indexing said spindlesil 23. In a gear cutting machine the combination of a cutter spindle, a polyhedron, means to rotate said polyhedron and cutter spindle relatively to each other, a series of Work spindles vrotatably mounted in said polyhedron, an indexing gear mounted concentric With said polyhedron and connected to said spindles, said indexing gear arranged to rotate withV said polyhedron, and means to actuate said indexing gear independently of said polyhedron to index said spindles.

. 24. In'a gear cutting machine the coinbil nation of a cutter spindle, av polyhedron,v

means to rotate said polyhedron and cutter spindle relatively to each other, a series of o wor-i( spindles mounted in said polyhedron,

an indexing gear rotatable independentlyof said polyhedron and connected to said spindles, an indexing plate secured t0 said index gear, a cam secured to and rotatable With and means op?A erated by said last mentioned shaft to conpolyhedron and connected. to said spindles, and an indexing' mechanism l nation Iof a cutter spindle, a polyhedron, means to rotate said cutter spindle and poly-l said indexing gear,

vsaid polyhedron,- and a locking bolt actuated by said cam to periodically engage said indexing plate to index said spindles.

25'. In a gear cutting machine the combi- I )vork spindles mounted in said polyhedron, v-

an indexing element connected to said spindles and arranged to rotate With 'said poly-y hedron and means to actuate said indexing element to periodically index-said spindles.

26. In. a gear cutting machinel the combi- .a polyhedron, means to rotate said polyhedron and cutter spindle relatively to each other, a series of Work spindles mounted in said" polyhedron, geared connections between each of said spindles, an element connected to, and coinmoii to all of said geared connections, and

means to periodically actuate said common element to index said spindles.

27. In a gear cutting machine the combination of a cutter spindle, a polyhedron, means to rotate said polyhedron and cutter spindle relativelyto each other, a series of Work spindles lrotatably mounted' in said polyhedron, Wormwheels secured to each of said spindles, a series of Worms arranged'so lthat each Worm engages two Wheels, an element connected to and common to all of said Worms, and means to periodicallyactuate i said element to index said work spindles.

28. In agear cutting machine, the combination of a cutter spindle, a series ofcutters secured thereto, a polyhedron, a series of Work spindles rotatably mounted in each face of said polyhedron, means to rotate said cutters at a constant speed, and means for continuously imparting a cuttingand non-cutting movement to said: polyhedron for each face thereof, and means to index said Work spindles during ,a non-cutting period.

29. In a. gear cutting machine the combination of a cutter spindle, a polyhedron, al

lio l series of work spindles rotatably mounted in said polyhed-ron, a main shaft, connections between said main Shaft and cutter spindle, a driving shaft, connections between said main and driving'shaftsto slowly rotate the latter, other connections between said v"main and driving shafts 'to rapidly rotate said driving Shaft, and a driven vshaft connected to said polyhedron and driving sha-ft.

30. In a gear cutting machine the combination of a cutter spindle, a polyhedron, a

series of Work spindles rotatably mounted in said polyhedron, a main shaft, connections between said main shaft and cutter spindle, a driving shaft, connections' between said main and drivingshafts to slowly rotate the latter, other connections between' said main and driving shafts tov rapidlyrotute Said driving shaft, e (iriven shaft cony neeted to said oiyhedi'on, :mii change speed elements connecting said driving and di'iveii Shafts.

'31. In :i gear ouiiiig machine the ooii'ibination of u Cuit-ei' Spiiidie, a polyhedron, Work spindies rotatabiy ,mounted in Seid polyhedron, means to rotuue said Cutter spindle :it a constant speed, e shaft, connections between said heif end poiyiiedi'oii comprising` change speed demente, und means to :iitei'neteiy increase and deci-ease the speed of seid shaft for ezieli face of Seid. poiyhedi'on.

In a, gear cutting machine the combination of e cutter spindle, a poiyhedronE e series of York spindles i'ofetably mounted in said poiyhedion, means to continuously rotate said out-ter spindle, :i shaft, connections between seid shaft and poiyhedion to Continuously rotate the letter, nie-ans to :literimtely increase end. deel-ease the speed of Weigel? Seid Shaft for each face of seid poljfhedi'on, and means opeiabie from Seid shaft o periodically index said 'wei-k spiiiies.

33. in u, gee? cutting machine the combination oi inflitte? epii'idie, ineens 'to ooiitin'w ousiy i'otete the emile, poiyhedion', e series of Work spindiee iotzitabiy mounted .in said. pcjfhedioii :imi e, ifei'iabiy speeded member ii'oiimeei to smid poiyhedi'oii to i'oaie die ei-ei at varying spe/ede 'in a gemL cutting iiiziehiie the combiniiion of e, cutter Spinflie, ineens to eontinw ousi); mme the sz'xixieje poiyiiedifon, u. Se ies oi woi'k spindles; iotatebiy mounted in seid inoiyhei'on, :i vai'iabiv epeeed member com iieeed to said poiyhedi'on to rotate iiie iai-,ter at varying Speeds, and means operable from said mexi'ibei $0 pei-iodieliy index said Work spindles.

Signed this 23rd day of August, 1915.

TLLAM F. ZMMERMANN. 

